March 25 was a special day for Ted as it was both the date of his birth and the date of his death.

Edward M. "Ted" Leonard was born on March 25, 1924, in Santa Cruz, California. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Leonard and the brother of Tom, James, Helen, Rosaria and Catherine Leonard. Ted Leonard attended Holy Cross Grammar School and Chaminade High School before transferring to Belarmine Preparatory School in Santa Clara, California.

After graduation in 1942, Leonard enrolled in the University of Santa Clara with the intent of becoming a chemist; however, after completing one year of college, the war interrupted those plans.

On May 17, 1943, Ted Leonard enlisted in the US Army and was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. Because of his education and leadership skills, Leonard was promoted to corporal and remained at the training facility as an instructor.

Corporal Leonard was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division and shipped to the Pacific Theater of the war on March 19, 1944. Leonard's first combat exposure was during an amphibious landing at Los Negros Island in the Philippines. A second combat encounter occurred during the attack upon the island of Leyte. Manila lay ahead.

After Manila was captured and mop-up activities completed, Leonard and his fellow infantrymen continued their march to the Luzon town of Tanauan. There, fate and a Silver Star awaited him on his birthday. The Santa Cruz Sentinel of June 5, 1945, shared information from Edward Leonard's Silver Star citation.

“Cavalry occupation of the important Luzon town of Tanauan was prevented by a heavy concentration of enemy fire. Although he knew the danger involved, Sergeant Leonard crawled beyond the front lines to a point where he could observe for, and direct the fire of his mortar squad. His accurate direction of fire enabled his squad to eliminate the enemy guns. Returning to his own unit, Leonard was fired upon by a hidden enemy machinegun. In his effort to locate the gun, Sergeant Leonard was forced to expose himself. He was killed immediately by an enemy sniper.”

Sergeant Edward M. Leonard was also awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously for his action on March 25, 1945. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila.

(ABMC; NARA2; SCR October 22, 1943 4, April 20, 1945, April
30, 1948; SCSn April 20, 1945, June 5, 1945 5:7; 1st Cavalry
Division, History WWII, http://pao.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/
about/history/worldwar2.htm, [16 September 2008])